Page 17 - aruba today

A17
Saturday 14 March 2020

In this April 17, 2017, file photo, runners cross the Boston Marathon start line in Hopkinton, Mass. Associated Press

Masters, Boston Marathon postponed due to coronavirus

By BERNIE WILSON look forward to for several postponed around the Boston. It connects us. It CAR and IndyCar reversed
AP Sports Writer weeks. Augusta National globe. reflects us. It brings out our course and pulled the plug
The shock waves from the offered no details for when But pressure had mounted community spirit and our on racing this weekend,
coronavirus outbreak rat- the green jacket will be in recent weeks from offi- resiliency." with IndyCar also suspend-
tled sports for another day slipped over the shoulders cials in Boston and the sev- The Boston Marathon has ing its season through the
as two rites of spring, the of a new champion, ex- en cities and towns along never been canceled out- end of April/
Masters and Boston Mara- cept for Chairman Fred the course. Some had ex- right since its first running NASCAR called off Sun-
thon, were postponed. Ridley saying he hopes the pressed worries not only in 1897, though there was day's race at Atlanta Motor
There was at least some re- postponement puts the for the health of the 31,000 a de facto cancellation Speedway and next week-
lief Friday that those events club in the best position to registered runners but also in 1918, when the end of end's events at Home-
are expected to take safely host the Masters "at the estimated 1 million World War I and a global in- stead-Miami Speedway.
place later in the year, un- some later date." spectators who traditional- fluenza pandemic prompt- Both events were already
like the stunning announce- The Masters had been ly line the route, giving ath- ed organizers to switch to a scheduled to be run with-
ment the day before that scheduled for April 9-12. letes hand slaps and even relay race format. out spectators.
the NCAA was canceling The Boston Marathon, the kisses as they pass. Until Friday, not even the IndyCar was scheduled to
March Madness, one of the world's most celebrated Walsh drew on the city's ral- Great Depression or fero- open its season Sunday on
biggest events on the U.S. footrace, was postponed lying cry in the aftermath cious storms had interrupt- the streets of downtown St.
sports calendar. from April 20 until Sept. 14. of the bombings that killed ed the 124-year-old race, a Petersburg without fans.
"Well, postponed is a com- Mayor Marty Walsh an- three and injured scores of bucket list quest for runners Formula One also can-
forting word," pro golfer nounced the decision. The others at the marathon fin- worldwide. About a third celed its season opening
Xander Schauffele said. Boston Athletic Association, ish line in 2013. of this year's runners were race in Australia, leaving
"Canceled is another." which oversees the mara- "We've shown before that from outside the U.S. the first full weekend of
Golf and car racing came thon, had held off deciding whatever the challenge to Friday's announcements global motorsports without
around and called off the fate of the race even our marathon and to our didn't come at the same a major event.
weekend events, leav- as other high-profile sports city, we are Boston Strong," crazy headline-a-minute
ing fans with nothing to events were canceled or he said. "The marathon is pace as Thursday. NAS- Continued on Page 18